New tennis centre is all set to open

A BRAND new £635,000 indoor tennis and netball centre is being built in Bude.

The new centre at Budehaven, which is set to be completed by October 7, will be equipped with Lawn Tennis Association and England netball regulation size courts for county levels and above.

Budehaven received a £425,000 government grant for the 14-metre high building, but the school, which has already raised £105,000, has to pay for the rest of the cost.

The dome-shaped building will be run by the newly formed Budehaven Community Leisure, which was created after Budehaven Community School took over the running of the leisure centre from Cornwall County Council on April 1.

Joint community leisure manager for Budehaven Community leisure, Rob Francis, said the new centre will be great for the community.

He said: "There are no indoor facilities to play tennis for about a 30-mile radius. So now people will be able to play tennis whatever the weather.

"Obviously for the local community it will provide another indoor space to play in a high quality environment."

The new centre will be working closely with Bude Tennis Club and will also be open to the public.

Budehaven Community Leisure, which will be running the new indoor centre, has released details of its holiday programme which started on July 26 and is scheduled to finish on September 1.

The new programme, which offers a range of activities for three to 13-year-olds, will include activities from art and craft to mini football to tag rugby.

For more details visit www.budehaven.cornwall.sch.uk/community-leis ure or call 01288 353714.